'Crimes have increased slightly as gangsters have started coming into the open taking the advantage of the changeover,' inspector general of police Nur Mohammad told New Age Wednesday.
'Incidents of extortion over phone have increased recently,' he said.
The police boss, however, claimed that the situation was not alarming as law enforcing agencies were conducting special drives, had set up checkpoints and increased patrols.
He said crooks sometimes try to take political shelters. 'But we understand what is what and the government has asked us not to spare anybody found involved in criminal activities.'
According to police statistics, a total of 268 incidents of robbery or burglary were recorded in the first three months of 2009 of which 182 were committed in houses, 27 on highways and the robbers killed seven people during the period.
The statistics put the number of mugging at 359 during the period while it was 298 during the corresponding period of last year.
Five incidents of political violence were recorded this year while the number was nil last year.
Some 483 cars and other vehicles were lifted in January-March this year while the number was 459 last year.
The number of murders, however, decreased across the country excepting in the capital city. A total of 930 people were murdered in the first three months of this year while the number was 993 in during the same period last year.
In the capital, the number of homicides was recorded at 82 compared to 64 during the same period of last year, according the statistics of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The incidents of robbery and burglary registered a sharp rise in the capital in recent times and the police recorded 37 robberies in January-March this year against 17 in the same period of last year.
The figures, however, do not reflect the real situation as many victims do not record criminal incidents that a large number of listed criminals, who were on the run during the state of emergency, have returned from their hideouts and resumed crimes with the blessings of a section of both ruling and opposition political leaders.
The director general of Rapid Action Battalion, Hasan Mahmud Khondokar, however, claimed that the law and order was under control.
Admitting increase in the incidents of shooting, killing and mugging, DMP commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque said, 'We have made some successes fighting crimes.'